After comparing two example websites, the Physicians Academy for Better Health website is more likely to be a reliable source of information.

Use this checklist of questions to ask when browsing health websites or deciding what health information to share on social media.

Asking these questions will help you find quality health information online and avoid sharing misinformation. But there is no guarantee that the information will be perfect.

So, it's a good idea to check several high-quality websites to see if they have similar information. Looking at many good sites will also give you a wider view of a health issue.

But remember that online information is not a substitute for medical advice from your own health care provider. What you learn online may not be right for you.

Always talk with your provider before following any advice that you find online.

Patient/provider partnerships lead to the best decisions for your health.

To learn more about finding good health information, visit the MedlinePlus page on Evaluating Health Information. It tells you what types of websites are generally trustworthy. It also includes tips for evaluating health stories in the news and books about health.

This resource is provided to you by the National Library of Medicine. If you have your own website, we invite you to link to this tutorial.